In the international community, terrorism has no legally binding, criminal law definition. Common definitions of terrorism refer only to those violent acts that are intended to create fear (terror); are perpetrated for a religious, political, or ideological goal; and deliberately target or disregard the safety of non-combatants (e.g., neutralmilitary personnel or civilians). Some definitions now include acts of unlawfulviolence and war. The use of similar tactics by criminal organizations for protection rackets or to enforce a code of silence is usually not labeled terrorism, though these same actions may be labeled terrorism when done by a politically motivated group. Usage of the term has also been criticized for its frequent undue equating with Islamism or jihadism, while ignoring non-Islamic organizations or individuals.

Noun1. a radical who employs terror as a political weapon; usually organizes with other terrorists in small cells; often uses religion as a cover for terrorist activities (hypernym) radical (hyponym) hacker, cyber-terrorist, cyberpunk (member-holonym) terrorist cell, radical cellAdjective1. characteristic of someone who employs terrorism (especially as a political weapon); "terrorist activity"; "terrorist state" (similar) violent (classification) politics, political science, government